Dual control for universal worktables



Sept. 6, 19.32.

w. F. ZIMMERMANN DUAL CONTRQL FOR UNIVERSAL WORKTABLES Filed Oct 8. I92?3 Sheets-Sheet l Sept; 6,-1932. w. F. ZIMMERMANN 1,875,910

DUAL CONTROL FOR UNIVERSAL WORKTABLES Filed Oct. '8'. 1927 s Shets-Sheet2 r--- fl.

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DUAL CONTROL FOR UNIVERSAL WORKTABLES Filed Oct. 8. 1927 3.Sheets-Sheet3 20 justing'the table along a manual means located on the head of theadjusting I ling thework table.

Patented Sept. 6, 1932 warren stares PATENT OFFICE WILLIAIE F.ZIMMERMANN, OF MAPLEWOOD NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO GOULD & EBEBHARDT, FNEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORBORATION 0F NEWJERSEY DUAL CONTROL'FORUNIVEBSAL WOR KTABLES Application filed October 3, 1927. swarm. 224,990.

The invention disclosed herein relates to certain improvements inshaping machine tools and in its more specific aspects to a dual controlmeans incorporated in a shaper having a universal work table thereon,thedual control means being designed to translate the universal table alongthe rail and having features whereby'it may be controlled from aplurality of conveniently positioned points.

The type of the machine tool referred to consists in general of a framehaving a horizontally reciprocating rain mounted thereon carrying acutting tool at its outerendi The frame also has mounted thereon for,vertical movement a cross rail which in turn supj screw shaft rotatablymounted longitudinally ports thereon the translatable work table.

In machines of this type the various controls have included meanslocated at the outer end of the cross rail for manually adthe cross railand also reciprocating ram for vertically the cutting tool thereon;

' In machining certain surfaces it is com- 5 mon practice for theoperator to perform each of the above mentioned adjustmentssimultaneously. During such adjustmentsit is necessary for the operatorto maintain a close watch on the work and the relation of the cuttingtool thereto.

chines, it has been found difficult to perform each of the abovefunctions since the position of the adjusting means has been such thatthe operators view is considerably obscured or that he must assume avery uncomfortable and tiresome position and one which could not bemaintained for any great period of time. Attempts have heretofore beenmadeto provide an auxiliary table adjusting means at the outer end ofshaper tables but such means were inconvenient to operate in that whenone adjusting means was operated the other one was required to belocked. This was troublesome and therefore often not resorted to withthe result that it to a large extent remained a single control. means;

step

as in the preceding devices. .7

The invention hereln disclosed is designed toovercome these difiicultiesand 1s espec ally 50. adapted for use .in combination with work- Informer ma-.

tables having a plurality of adjustments. 5

commonly known as a universal work table. The provision of dual controlmeans in a table of this type presents problems not encountered in asimple rigid table mounted for translation only. The universal worktable includes a saddle mounted on the cross rail, a main work carriermounted to be swiv elled about any axis transverse, to the cross railand having incorporated on onesurface' thereof, which in certainadjusted positions of the table is the upper horizontal surface, anauxiliary tiltable fixture adapted to carry the work.

The novel dual control means consists of a" I-n machines of this. typeit isoften desirable to supply the shaper tool with an auxiliary supportcomprisinga bracket adapted to be secured to the outer end of the worktable. One of the features of this invention includes the idea of soarrangingthe concentric ad- 7 justing shaft that it maybe operatedeasily through a slot in the supporting bracket which slot also servesthe purpose of sup-- porting a clamping bolt therein for securing thebracket to' the universal table in its verticaliy adjustedpositions.

The adjusting features-on a universal worktable include meansfor-sWivelling the'table, means for tilting theauxiliary table and theabove mentioned means for adjusting the table along the cross rail, Thearrangement in this invention is such that eachof these adjusting meansis conveniently located adjacent each other and operable fromtheouterend of the work table 1 V The-embodiment of this invention asdisclosedin the present application'includes a; type of rail and tableconstruction which is peculiarly Well adapted for the incorporationtherein of the type of dual control means forming a primary feature ofthis invention.

This table support and guide 'means are arranged in a novel manner suchas to eliminate the bowing and distortion of rails which occurs in theprior constructions and makes provision for anopening extending thelength of the rail adapted to receive elements of the dual controlmechanism without sacrificing any of the features of rigidity ofconstruction in the cross-railsoughtL H I Other objects and advantageswill be in part indicated in the following description andin partrenderedap-parent. therefrom in connection with the annexed drawings.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to apprehend the underlyingfeatures hereof that they'may embo-dy'th-e same in the Various wayscontemplatedfby this inven-tion draw ings depicting a preferred typicalconstruction have been annexed as a 'part of. this disclosure and, insuch drawings, like char- 7 acters ofv reference denote correspondingarts throu hout all the Views of which 7 Figure 1 is a vertical sideView of a shaper showing the invention, incorporated therein.

F ig. 2 is a front elevational view looking from the left in Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is .a vertical cross sectional View of the universal tableshowing the adjusting means and an outer supporting bracket omitted inFig. 1. Fig. 4 is a portion of a horizontal section taken through'thehorizontaladjusting means for the table and Fig. 5 is an enlarged frontview of the table showing manyof the details of construction not foundin Fig.12. i

The invention is shown incorporated in a shaper" having the generalfeatures consist ing of a frame 10, a'rani 11 mounted for horizontalreciprocation thereon',.the outer end of the ram having a verticallyadjustable slide 12 thereon carrying the cutting tool 13, V suchvertical adjustment being accomplished. by the screw shaft '14 rotatableby means'of the hand'lever 15.

The forward face of the framehas mounted for vertical movement thereonthe cross rail 16'adjustable in a well known means including thevertical screw shaft 17. The

cross rail slides in the vertical guides 18 and is clamped in positionby clamping bolts projecting through the vertical slots 19 in aconventional mannerl.

A saddle 20 is translatably secured on the.

cross rail 16 which saddle in turn carries the work table 21 having anauxiliary outer support 22 therefor. The work table 21 is pro-.

vided with two working faces 23 and 24, the

working face 24 including a tilting element.

25 having a vise 26 secured thereonas shown in Fig. 1 or it isobviousthe work maybe directlyassembled on the tilting element 25.

The conventional elements include a gear train 27 adapted to reciprocatethe ram 11 "and" through suitable mechanism, indicated generally at 28,"to impart'an intermittent rotary motion to the screw shaft 30 mounted inthe cross rail.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 3 the saddle 20'has integral therewith orsecured thereto a frame portion 31 having a projecting hub or'drumportion 32 upon which the table frame 33 is rotatably mounted. Therotation is accomplished by means of the large gear 34 formed on thestationary member 31 and having in. mesh therewith the worm member 35rigid with or secured to the bevel gear 36.

The worm and'bevel gear are mounted on a shaft in the frame 33. Rotationof the bevel gear 36 is accomplished by means of the adjusting shaft 37mounted in the rotary portion of the table by means of the bearings 38and 39 and having at its innerend the bevel gear40 meshing with thebevel gear 36. The

outer end of the shaft has a squared portion 41. adapted to receive amanually operated crank. The rotary table frame 33 is secured on the hub32by means of the bolts 42 threadably engaged in the segmental plates 43shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 and as shown in Fig. 3 located withinthe T-shaped openings 44 which T-shaped openings are formed on a radiusconcentric with the drum 32.

The means for tiltably supporting the plate 2 5 andsecurin it inadjusted positions include the upstanding journal brackets45 and 46adapted to support the rigid shaft 47 which inturn also carries thetable element 25'. The table element 25 has fixed thereto the bracket 48provided with a gear segment 49 at the inner end thereof adapted to been-' gaged by the. worm 50 secured to the shaft 51'mounted in therotatable portion of the table and having at its outer end the squaredportion 52 adapted to receive a manually on erable' lever similar to thesquared end 41. The tilting table element 25 is clamped in its ad ustedpositions by means of the clamping bolts 53 secured in the journalbrackets 45 and 46 and projecting through the are shaped concentricallymounted within the drum 32 and the table is the shaft 62 secured againstoutward movement by any simple means such as the collar 63 fixed theretoand,

bearing against the bushing'64 secured with- 1n the plate 56. The noveldual adjustable means for translating the tablealong the cross railinclude the screw shaft 30 rotatably' mounted in the end bracket-members66 and As shown most clearly in 67 of the cross rail. A squared end 30is provided on the outer end of shaft 80 for the reception of a handcrank. Engaging with the screw shaft is the nut 68 fixed againstrotation and longitudinal movement in the bracket 69 by means of the pin70 which bracket 69'is secured to the saddle portion of the table and isadapted to move along the screw shaft in the opening 71 as the screwshaft 30 is rotated. The adjusting shaft 62 is connected thereto bymeans of the bevel gearing 72 and 73, the bevel gear 73 being fixed tothe collar 7 4 which in turn is splined to the shaft 30 by means of thekey 75. The outer end of the shaft 62 has a squared portion 76 adaptedto receive a crank inserted through the vertical slot 77 of thesupporting bracket 22.

The table may be rotated about its axis in the manner heretoforedescribed and secured in the position shown in Fig. 1 or that shown inFig. 2 or an intermediate position similar to that shown in dottedlinesin Fig. 2. Such rotation of the table however does not move theadjusting shaft 62 which remains stationary and concentric therewith andwith its outer end projecting to a point adjacent the slot 77 such thatan actuating crank may be applied therethru. The slot 77 also receivesthe clamping bolt 77 cooperating with the plate 77 to secure the tablein its vertically adjusted positions.

The advantages afforded by the dual control may be seen by inspection ofFigs. 1 and 2. The operator, with the present arrangement, ordinarilystands at the right of the table as shown in Fig. 2 with his right handgrasping the lever 15 and using the left to actuate the shaft 62. Insuch a position the operator would have a constant and an unobstructedview of the work mounted on the table. This is in great contrast to theuncomfortable position the operator would be required to assume if itwere necessary to actuate the shaft 30 with the left hand ad-' j acentthe outer end of the cross rail. It is clear also that the operatorwould not be able to stand close to the work especially if the tablewere moved to a position near the left end of the rail as shown in Fig.2. These advantageous features are accomplished in a universallyadjustable work table without sacrificing any of the features of itsadjustability as previously described. As another point in connectionwith the dual control which should be noted is the specific constructionof the connection between the two adjusting means whereby they may bealternately actuated without the necessity of resorting to locking theparticular one which is not being immediately utilized.

An ususually rigid and strong supporting means for a heavy work table ofthis type is required and novel means therefore have been conceived andmade adaptable to cooperatewith the dual actuating means. Such aconstruction consistsv of a cross rail having the lower bearing platesurface 78 against which the lower end of the work table constantlybears and an upper guiding means consisting of a projecting ledge member79 having integral therewith the overhanging or projecting portion 80which in turn has integral therewith or rigidly secured thereto theplate 81 by means of screw bolts 82. Within the opening formedby theseelements a projecting portion 83 of the Work table extends having theinner upturned end 84 adapted to closely fit in the opening. The undersurface of the ledge member 79 is engaged by the pro-- j ecting portion85 of the work table or saddle, such engaging surfaces being inclined inwardly and upwardly. An adjustable gib member 86 is inserted betweenthese inclined surfaces and likewise an adjustable gibmemfore that theguiding structure is not thereby weakened by insertion therebetween ofthe long unsupported opening required by the adjusting screw. Theguiding surfaces are therefore practically freed from. any-dispositionto bow andto thereby destroy the ref lation of the guiding surfaces withan attend- I ant loosening of the securing means.

Any tendency of the table to .turn in a counterclockwise direction inFig. 3 causes the overhanging hook portion of the guide to firmly engagethe upturnedportion .84: of the table saddle and cause the surface 88 tofirmly engage the upper fiat surface of the ledge member and theprojecting portion 85 to likewise engage the under surface of the ledgein a more firm manner. As a' result of the inclined surface on theprojection 85 and also the upturned portion of the table saddle 8 l,normal working forces acting on the table would tend to more firmly drawthe table saddle into engagement with the surface 89 of the ledge memberand the co-act ing surfaces to be more firmly locked onthe ledge member.By providing the upturned portion at and an overhanging hook portiononthe rail rather than having the table hook over the rail as in manyprior constructions the advantages pointed out above are accomplishedand in addition a longer lever arm is provided for resisting theturning; movement normally imparted-to the work table, such lever" armbeing equal to the distance from the upturned portion Bate a point nearthe lower part of the bearing plate 78. 1 The above'described cross railand table construction is especially advantageous in conjunction withthe dual control means in that it permits the latte r to be mounted'insuch a position that the actuating shaft 62 may be extended out throughthe support ing drum and concentric therewith.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will sofully reveal the gist ofthis invention .that otherscan, by applying current knowl- 'Having thusrevealed this invention, I,

claim as new and desire to secure the following combinations andelements, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of United States a1'. A shaper combining a frame; a cross rail mounted thereon; a saddletranslatably mounted on said cross-rail; a trunnion extending outwardlyfrom said saddle; a table rotatablymounted on said trunnion; means,including an actuating shaft extending lengthwise of said table andhaving its operating end accessible from the end of the table, forrotating the table on said trunnion; a tiltable supporting memberpivotally mounted on said table; means carried by and rotatable withsaid table and including an actuating shaft having its operatingendaccessible from the end of the table for tilting said supportingmember in the various angular positions of said table; means for trans-.lating said saddle along said cross-rail including'a non-rotatable nutcarried by said saddle, a rotary feed screw journaled lengthwise of saidcross-rail and having a threaded engagement with said nut, saidfeedscrew being provided with a projecting end adapted to receive anactuating crank to effect rotation of said screw and thereby translationof said table; and auxiliary means for rotating said feed screw toefiect translation of said table, said auxiliary means including a shaftjournaled coaxial with said trunnion and having an end adjacent theendof said table adapted to receive an actuating crank, and a splinedgear connection between the other end of said shaft and said feed screw.

2. A shaper combining a frame; acrossrail mounted thereon; a' saddletranslatably mounted on said cross-rail; a trunnion extending outwardlyfrom said saddle; a table rotatably mounted on said trunnion; a supporting bracket secured to the outer end of said table and extendingabove the axis of sai trunnion and having a verticalcslot therein;means, including an actuating shaft extending lengthwise ofsaid tableand havlng its operating end accesslble from the end of the table, forrotating the table on said trunnion; a tiltable supporting memberpivotally mounted on said table; means carried by and rotatable withsaid table and include ingan actuating shaft having its operating endaccessible from the end of the table for tilting said supporting memberin the various angular positions of saiditable; means for translatingsaid saddle along said crossrail including a non-rotatable nut carriedby said saddle, a rotary feed screw journaled feed screw being providedwith a, projecting end adapted to receive an actuating crank to sheetrotation of said screw and thereby lengthwise of said cross-rail andhaving a threaded engagement with said nut, said translation of saidtable; and auxiliary means for rotating said feed screw to effecttranslation of sai d table, said an: 'liary means including a shaltiournaled coaxial with said trunnion and in alignment wi h the slot insaid supporting hr clret having an endedjacent the end of said tableadapted to receive an actuating cranlr passed tnrough said slot, and asplined gear connection between the other end of said shaft and saidfeed screw. i

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WTLTJANI F. ZIMWTERMANN.

